Union Solidarity as an organisation formally folded at the end of February 2009. The decision was prompted by a lack of resources and a need to rethink the group’s core strategy. However Union Solidarity activists believe that given Union Solidarity’s success the basic concept of Union Solidarity needs to be spread throughout the whole of the union movement.

Union Solidarity was formed in 2005 as a response to the Howard Government’s Workchoices legislation. The group played an important role in the Your Rights at Work Campaign, coordinating mobilisations for rallies, distributing campaign information and setting up local community/union groups. Crucially Union Solidarity provided a leadership and organising role in a number of industrial disputes. This was due to fact that the legal sanctions prevented the union that had coverage from playing its traditional role. Most of the disputes that Union Solidarity were involved in were settled through negotiation on terms acceptable to the workforce.

In spite of Union Solidarity’s success, in recent times, the demands on the group and attempting to mobilise support from one small and centralised list of union activists has proved unsustainable. The conclusion has been drawn that activist lists need to be generated in every union to face the challenges ahead. A steering committee has been formed to facilitate this important work. The basic concept of Union Solidarity was that we gave committed unionists an opportunity to give other unionists a hand when they were in trouble.

Brian Boyd VTHC Secretary has recently said, “The developing impact of the financial crisis gives rise to big challenges for the union movement.” In many ways the current crisis poses a more profound threat to the union movement than John Howard and Workchoices.

Brian Boyd has also commented, “It is right for workers to be angry at obscene executive salaries; it is right to rebel against job losses and threatened job losses; it is crucial to defend and protect hard worked for entitlements, often swallowed up when companies get themselves into trouble.”

It’s inevitable that some of the anger and rebellion will spill over to industrial action. When it does those desperate struggles need to be given every chance of success. Our experience has shown us that workers giving other workers on-the-ground solidarity during disputes is crucial. Activist lists built in every union will help facilitate this support.

Labels: Union Solidarity